A military plane crashed in southeastern Turkey, killing both pilots, the Turkish General Staff said Friday.

ANKARA
(Sputnik) – The Cobra aircraft, taking part in the counterterrorist
operation, crashed at 2:50 GMT in the Hakkari province due to a
technical failure, according to the general staff. Both pilots were
killed in the crash.
The majority of the province’s population is Kurdish. Tensions
between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 as fighting
between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Kurdish pro-independence
organization considered to be terrorists by Ankara, and the Turkish
army resumed. Ankara has imposed several round-the-clock curfews
in Kurdish-populated towns, preventing civilians from fleeing the
regions where the military operations are taking place.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Inching closer to a military invasion of Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch "operations" to "clean the other side of the border."

Throughout 2016 there have been growing signs of Ankara’s intention to deploy ground forces in Syria. In February, the Russian government reported "a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish armed forces for active actions on the territory of Syria."

At the time, Ankara rejected these claims, even as it launched military actions against Kurds in southeastern Turkey and sent troops into northern Iraq, over the objections of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

On Thursday, President Erdogan gave further indication that his government is actively considering the deployment of troops into Syria.

Erdogan added that he was disappointed with the lack of support from other nations involved in the five-year Syrian civil war.

"We do not believe the sincerity of any country that has not seen rockets falling on our town as if they fell on Moscow, London, Brussels, Paris or Berlin," he said.

"Let me say it here. We will not hesitate to take needed steps on our own if necessary."

The president’s comments come as no surprise as, in February, he indicated that Syria’s sovereignty was less important than Turkey’s own.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with sovereign rights of states that cannot maintain their territorial integrity. On the contrary, this is about protecting Turkey’s sovereign rights," Erdogan said during a UNESCO Creative Cities Network event in Istanbul.

The US-led coalition against Daesh will buy an unspecified amount of non-standard ammunition from Turkey Killed 3,000 Terrorists, Suffered Worst From Fighting Them - Erdogan

ATHENS—In Europe’s battle with the International Monetary Fund over Greece, Germany has a way to win.

Germany, Europe’s dominant economic power, is leaning heavily on the IMF to accept hypothetical assurances that Greece’s debt burden will be addressed in the future if needed, rather than the definite and far-reaching debt relief that the IMF wanted, according to people familiar with the talks.Analysis

Berlin believes the IMF will have to accept what’s on offer, even if IMF staff are unhappy about it, these people say. The IMF is also under heavy European pressure to accept Greek austerity policies that are less specific than the cuts the IMF wanted. An accord hasn’t been reached yet, and some warn it could take several weeks.

The IMF’s Achilles' heel: Its board is controlled by Germany, other European Union countries, and the U.S., none of whom want a new crisis over Greece. That power reality weakens the IMF’s threat to pull out of the Greek bailout if it is unsatisfied.

The EU currently faces multiple challenges that threaten to unravel the 60-year-old project of European integration, including the U.K.’s referendum on leaving the bloc, the migration crisis, and the rise of EU-skeptic populist parties. Germany and other European governments have no appetite for another round of brinkmanship over Greece like in 2015, and want a deal in coming weeks that settles Greece’s future—at least for now.

Any deal is nevertheless likely to include some important concessions to the IMF. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble—who until recently adopted the hard-line stance in public that Greece needs no debt relief at all—has already permitted discussions to start this week about how eurozone loans to Greece might be restructured in the future.

A deal, which many European officials are now confident of reaching in late May or early June, is expected to include a promise by Germany and other eurozone countries to keep Greece’s debt burden below a certain threshold. That promise would entail easing the terms of Greece’s loans “if necessary.”

Crucially for Berlin, however, any decision to restructure the loans would be delayed until 2018—after Germany’s 2017 elections. Mr. Schäuble and his boss, Chancellor Angela Merkel, are determined to avoid, for now, any material change to Greece’s bailout plan that would force them to hold an awkward debate in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, according to people familiar with their thinking.

An accord on Greek debt and austerity would allow Athens to stay afloat this summer, when large bonds fall due. But it is unlikely to resolve the country’s seven-year-old debt crisis. Participants in the troubled bailout are braced for further drawn-out negotiations in coming years about Greece’s fiscal and other overhauls.

The main source of this year’s re-escalation of the Greek debt saga is Germany’s insistence that it cannot release any further bailout funds unless the IMF agrees to resume its own lending to Athens. IMF lending has been in limbo since last July, when IMF staff stated that “Greece’s public debt has become highly unsustainable.”

The IMF is also struggling to uphold its demands on Greece’s fiscal overhauls. IMF head Christine Lagarde, in a letter to eurozone finance ministers last week, rejected Greece’s proposed formula for extra savings in case fiscal targets are missed as “ad hoc,” “not very credible” and falling short of proper reforms to Greece’s public sector.

On Monday, however, Europe accepted a modified version of Greece’s proposal. The agreement leaves open how Greece would make its budget savings permanent. The IMF previously wanted Greece to legislate concrete measures, but is now likely to win only a looser commitment, leaving many policy specifics to be negotiated in the future, according to people close to the talks.

Here too, the IMF has come under pressure from its shareholders to dilute its demands on Athens.

Greece’s finance minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, has succeeded in convincing Mr. Schäuble that further cuts in pensions, as the IMF wanted, are politically beyond what the Greek government can deliver, say people familiar with the matter.

The Himara Community, informed the headquarters
of the Council of Europe and the Bank for Development, for the demolition of
the homes and businesses of citizens with Greek descent in Himara Region, after
the action of the authorities of the Inspectorate INUK and the Albanian Army, in
Drymades, Vuno and Himara.

About 25 homes and businesses, on the grounds that "going through the plan
of reconstruction of historic centers," a project funded by The Council of
Europe and the Bank for Development, with 28 million euro, for the development
of tourism in the Alps and Ionian Coast of Albania, added revolt among
residents after their homes were demolished on charges "that are illegal
construction".

SManalysis

The situation is similar developments for the demolition of the village Jali,
of Himara Region in 2007 by the government of the PM Berisha, in collaboration
with the program of the World Bank, for "the development of the southern
coast of Albania", which ended in a scandal with international dimensions,
which included important directors of the Bank.

"We ask," Pardon "for the residents who collapsed houses,
The World Bank, there is no funding programs for the Albanian government,
through acts of vandalism to increase poverty and revolt against residents who
were corrupt homes and economy", was that the response of the World Bank,
which followed the path of an International Court with the Albanian government.

But there is no explanation for the acts of vandalism of the Albanian
government, they are continuing without stopping, which has taken actions for
breach of households of citizens with Greek descent. Shameful act is the
involvement of the Albanian Army, which is terrorizing residents, most of
Pensioners.
Meanwhile, The Himara Community, a non-governmental organization, financed
by USAID sometimes has requested explanations from the Office of the EU
Delegation in Albania, as part of the financing the Program: ""
Restoration and urban requalification of the territory in Dhërmi (Drymades in
Greek) and Vuno Villages ", in order to Develop tourism 'economic progress
as well as through restoration, conservation and Rehabilitation of traditional
houses Areas and cultural heritage.

The Institute of Monuments of Culture of Albania, which is responsible for the
project, states that are to be demolished 45 buildings hotels up in 5 floors,
in Drymades and Vuno, but according to sources from Himara, damage caused by
demolition of 25 buildings so far, it can be estimated around 1 million euro,
whose people, are facing difficulties to criminally prosecuted and responsible
actions of the Albanian government.

This confusion and terror against the population, inhabited by ethnic Greek
community, in Drymades and Vuno, comes after the authority of the State
Inspectorate, demolished Church of Agia Athanasios, last year, which was
dishonored in a diplomatic conflict between Albania and Greece, brought
consequences irreparable to the opening of negotiations for Albania to the EU.
Greece decided "Veto", to the report of the European Commission, to
force Albania, to respect the freedoms and human rights and in particular the
Greeks living in Himara Region.

Related:

Assignment
Description: The
Government of Albania has received a loan from the Council of Europe
Development Bank (CEB) in an of EURO 28,700,000 toward the cost of the
“Community Works IV: Development of the Albanian Alps and Coastal Areas”
Project, and it intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan to
eligible payments for goods, works, related services and consulting services to
be procured under this project. The (Development of the Albanian Alps
and the coastal area") project which is partly financed by the European
Union.http://www.albaniandf.org/shqip/Prokurime/Pages/Sherbime_konsulence_2016_04_26.html

Διεθνοποιείται η υφαρπαγή των περιουσιών Ελλήνων στους Δρυμάδες

A World Bank
project meant to safeguard Albania’s coastal zones was used to selectively
demolish parts of a village in southern Albania and leave many families
homeless, according to an internal report , which additionally notes
allegations of corruption and efforts by World Bank officials to cover up the
events .

- See more at:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/exclusive-world-bank-demolished-albania-village#sthash.p9eRoBXH.dpuf

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

After an investigation that lasted for at least a year, police have uncovered an international ring worth hundreds of millions of euros that supplied Europe with drugs, and are looking for one of its leaders, who allegedly has links to the Albanian government.

The 44-year-old suspect, who had a drug-related criminal record, had been appointed by the government to oversee transport issues in the town of Saranda in Albania in 2014 despite being accused of being a drug lord by opposition parties in the neighboring country.

Fifteen people have so far been arrested – 13 Greeks and two Albanian nationals – in raids conducted last Sunday in the Attica municipalities of Afidnes, Aspropyrgos, Glyka Nera, Ymittos, Korydallos, Kallithea and Kifissia, the islands of Salamina and Zakynthos, and Veria, northern Greece. A total of 678.5 kilos of cannabis hidden on an islet off Zakynthos was confiscated.

Investigations are also reportedly being conducted in Belgium. According to the police narcotics unit, the ring, which has been active since at least 2014, used trucks and speedboats to transport huge quantities of cannabis and cocaine to Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, Austria, Belgium and Norway.

Police said the drugs were imported to Greece via speedboats from Albania and then distributed to Europe through a bogus Greece-based international truck transport company with subsidiaries in Bulgaria and Austria.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The EU is considering alternatives to the migrant deal it struck with the Turkish government, one of which is to use Greek islands as reception centers, the German newspaper Bild reported.

Turkey Accused of Blackmail as Erdogan Hardens Line Against Europe
The islands of the Aegean may become temporary reception centers for migrants if the 6 billion euro ($6.8 billion) deal with Turkey falls through; in that case, the EU will send the money to Athens instead, German newspaper Bild reported on Tuesday.

EU officials are making contingency plans because of the increasing likelihood that Turkey will not fulfil the conditions of its migrant deal, which was struck in November following negotiations between former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the EU Council.

The deal contains 72 requirements that Ankara must meet in order to receive 6 billion euros in financial aid, a speeding up of the EU accession process, and visa-free travel in the Schengen zone for Turkish citizens. In return, the EU wants Turkey to control its borders and prevent illegal migration to Europe.

On Friday, the day after Prime Minister Davutoglu left the government, reportedly due to a disagreement with President Erdogan's policies, the President made a speech in which he stated "we will go our way, you go yours," and publicly rejected the request to reform Turkey's anti-terror laws.

An EU minister told Bild on Sunday that as a result of apprehension about Turkey's willingness to adhere to the agreement and Erdogan's threats to open Turkey's border with Europe, contingency preparations are being made to find another resolution, one of which involves using Greek islands as migrant reception centers.

In this case, asylum seekers would have their claims processed on the islands, and those who are refused asylum will be deported back to their home country.

The six billion euros promised to Turkey (100 million of which has been disbursed), to pay for the housing of asylum seekers would therefore go to Athens instead, and ferries to the mainland from the islands would be suspended, Bild reported.

Karl-Georg Wellmann of Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union political party commented that controlling the borders of the EU must be the main priority.

"In any case we have to take proper precautions: protecting the EU's borders and handling asylum cases locally on the islands, not on the mainland, and deporting those who are not refugees," the politician told Bild.

Elvis, or Ervin, Rroshi, mayor of Kavaja, has said in a statement issued under Albania's lustration law that while he faced charges in Germany some years ago, he does not remember why.
Gjergj ErebaraBIRN
Tirana

Albania PM Edi Rama campaigning with Kavaja mayor Elvis Rroshi. Photo: Facebook
An Albanian mayor has caused confusion by claiming he did not remember why he faced criminal charges in Munich, Germany, several years ago.
Elvis Rroshi, mayor of Kavaja since 2011, and a man often accused of having a criminal past, had to declare any prior charges and convictions to the Central Election Commission under the Law “On the Integrity of Persons Elected or Nominated in Public Offices”.
In his statement, which was leaked to the media on Sunday, he answered “Yes” to the question about whether he had ever faced criminal charges abroad and said that it happened in Munich “before 2002”.
However, he went on state that he did “not remember” why he faced charges and nor did he remember what the consequences of the charges were.
The law, approved last year in parliament after two years of discussions, obliges about 1,836 politicians and senior officials in Albania to declare whether they were ever charged or sentenced for criminal activity and authorizes the authorities to check their statements.
If they were accused of serious crimes, they must resign. If the lie in the statements, they have to resign as well.
The statements of the officials will later be verified through correspondence between Albania's General Prosecutor's Office and the authorities of other countries.
In a statement issued after the leak, Rroshi confirmed the admission but added that his troubles with German justice were related to his work as illegal immigrant and not to more serious breaches of the law.
“This happened because I was an illegal immigrant,” Rroshi said. “I have stated that I don’t remember the details because I would like to be accurate,” the statement added.
Rroshi is one of several politicians and other state officials accused of having criminal pasts or confirmed as having been sentenced for serious crimes, including murder, human trafficking and drug trafficking.
An earlier investigation by BIRN noted that Swiss police records show that Rroshi was the subject of criminal proceedings there from 1993 to 1997.

AFP
10.05.2016
Three years ago, Albert and Yassin left their homes in Kosovo and Albania to wage jihad in Syria. Now they're back, swelling the ranks of jihadists in a region the Islamic State has called a "new front" in Europe.
Yassin, 30, who now works as a halal butcher in a downtrodden suburb of Albania's capital Tirana, refused to give his real name out of fear of repercussions. Wounded in Syria's battered northern city of Aleppo in 2014, the father-of-three told how he left "to help the Syrian people" and hopes Allah will recognise his sacrifice, even if he did not die a martyr.
Albert Berisha, a 29-year-old political science graduate, says he took an "emotional decision" to leave for the Middle East "after seeing on TV and social media what was happening in Syria."
Berisha has not escaped the attention of the authorities however: Last month, he was sentenced to three and a half years behind bars.
Authorities say around 300 Kosovans and up to 120 Albanians have left to wage jihad in Syria – placing them among the most affected per capita by the jihadist phenomenon. Around 30 combatants have returned to Albania and 120 to Kosovo, according to government estimates.
Albanian religious affairs analyst Ermir Gjinishi warned that "if we do not integrate them back into society, if we marginalise them, former combatants returning to the country could ... be provoked into extreme actions."
An Islamic State propaganda video last year entitled "Honour is in Jihad: a message to the people of the Balkans" described the region as a "new front" for jihad in Europe. "Black days are coming to you," a Kosovan fighter warns the governments of Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia. "You will be terrorised."
Muslims in Kosovo and Albania have historically been liberal, but on the streets of Pristina, women in full veils and bearded men with trousers cropped at the ankles hint at a latent radicalisation.
Ilir Kulla, former head of Albania's "State Committee of Cults", said would-be jihadist recruiters find their job made easier by "the economic situation, a (low) level of education and Internet brainwashing."
According to World Bank figures, the average monthly wage in Kosovo is a measly $330 (290 euros), slightly higher in Albania at $370. And while money is not the main driving force behind the departures for Syria, an Albanian police officer said a fighter in an IS unit would earn more than double that and $2,000 as a commander.
Visar Duriqi, a Kosovo-based expert in religion, noted: "Kosovo was economically devastated in the war and its economic recovery is still slow, which is creating many social problems."
The authorities in the region are fighting back and claiming some success. "No Kosovan has joined a terrorist group in the past six months," said president Hashim Thaci, who told journalists in February he had himself received death threats from Islamic State. Albania's deputy interior minister Elona Gjebrea said "no Albanian had left the country" for Syria since 2014.
In both places, authorities have clamped down on returning jihadists and those who recruit them, with an increasing number of arrests and trials.
On Tuesday, Albania jailed nine men for up to 18 years for financing and recruiting fighters – the first trial of its kind.
As the verdicts were handed down, the defendants shouted "Allahu Akbar (God is greatest). Traitors. Our time will come. You will be punished."
The prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has introduced religious education in schools to fight against ignorance and what he called "demagogues, charlatans and manipulators." One of those people Rama is targeting is Almir Daci, an Iman who ran a network responsible for sending 70 people – including women and children – to Syria. The 34-year-old helped to transform Leshnice, Remenj and Zagorcan – villages near the Macedonian border where churches stand side-by-side with mosques – into a hotbed of jihadist recruitment.
Daci, alias Abu Bakr al-Albani, worked as the Iman in a neighbouring village of Pogradec and was one of the Islamic State group's main recruiters in Albania. His relatives received news from Syria that he had died last month but, as is often the case, there was no way of independently confirming this.
Hurma Alinji, 59, a neighbour of the Daci family, accuses Daci of being responsible for the death of her son, who died in Syria in 2014 aged 28.
"I blame Daci. He's the only one responsible. He pushed my son Ervis to leave," she said. Ervis worked in Greece but his family noticed radical changes in his behaviour after he began frequenting Daci's mosque.
Before he would happily watch his father swill raki but suddenly "refused to eat the meat" bought from the village and "cut the bottoms off his new trousers."
One evening in February 2013, he said his "brothers needed help." And left to die in Syria, like around 70 Albanians and Kosovans. (AFP)

The Turkish President has reacted angrily to the European Commission after it insisted his government make changes to highly controversial anti-terror laws, as a condition of proposed visa-free travel in the EU.

In a speech in the city of Malatya, Turkey's President Erdogan said:

"On the question of visas, let those who call on Turkey to modify its anti-terrorism law start by removing tents set up by the terrorists at the doors of the European Parliament."

His comments are in reference to the presence of a group of Kurdish activists who protested in Brussels during March 2016.

​Erdogan's remarks are illustrative of the ongoing tensions between the Turkish government and organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose classification as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies remains contentious.

A banner showing Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (L) together during an election rally in the central Anatolian city of Konya, Turkey, October 30, 2015.

Human rights campaigners have been vocal over Turkey's implementation of the so-called anti-terror laws, claiming they have been used as a means to curb free speech and dissenting journalism. The recent high profile case of journalist Can Dundar, who reported the transporting of arms from Turkey to Syria — resulting in a six years prison sentence — is increasingly representative of Turkey's attitude towards dissent.

"There are more claims against Turkey upheld in the European Court of Human Rights than any other country. They have never even implemented the determinations of the EU Court of Human Rights, and claims against particular people that have been upheld — those people are still in their jobs," Owen told Sputnik.

​Visa relaxation between the EU and Turkey has often been touted as a likely precursor to the country's accession as a member state of the EU, a process over which President Erdogan has a surprising amount of leverage. This is because of Turkey's agreement to take in huge numbers of refugees fleeing to Europe. With that in mind, refusals to alter Turkey's anti-terror laws have been described as blackmail by European Council President Donald Tusk.

As Margaret Owen told Sputnik, Turkey has form on refusing to adhere to EU requirements, despite being a signatory to the EU Convention of Human rights:

"There's something called the Copenhagen Criteria, which are the conditions that states must comply with in order to be able to be accepted into the European Union, and Turkey has not complied with them."

​The EU-Turkey visa deal will need to be approved by 28 member states, and is technically contingent on a number of criteria on which Turkey falls short. However, Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to rescind any obligations regarding the refugee crisis, should the promised visa relaxation not go ahead.

Supporters for Austria's
Freedom Party gather at an anti-immigration demonstration in Vienna on
April 18, 2016. The growing popularity of nationalist parties in Austria
and Germany could have a significant impact on the future of the
European Union.(JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

During the early stages of the EU crisis, most threats to the
survival of the Continental bloc came from its periphery. Back then the
prevailing fear was that financial disaster in a southern member state —
a default in Greece or Portugal, for example — could precipitate the
eurozone's collapse, hurting northern nations such as Germany and the
Netherlands in the process. Though the possibility still exists, a sort
of inverse threat has emerged. Today, the steady rise of
anti-establishment and Euroskeptic sentiments in Northern Europe, as
exemplified in Austria and Germany, threatens the Continent's south.
In Austria's first round of presidential elections, held April 24,
voters demonstrated the extent of their dissatisfaction with traditional
parties. For the first time since the early 1950s, the country's
president will not be a member of the traditional center-left Social
Democrats or the conservative People's Party. Instead, candidates from
the nationalist Freedom Party and Green Party, having received over 36
percent and roughly 20 percent of the vote, respectively, will face off
in the May 22 runoff election. Although the president's role is mostly
ceremonial, the vote nevertheless sends a clear signal to Vienna's
moderate government.

A broad movement toward nationalism in Austrian politics would have
an impact on several EU issues, including the migration crisis and
bailouts for troubled eurozone members. Austria is one of the countries
most affected by Europe's migration crisis: Statistics indicate that in
2015, asylum applications exceeded births in the country. So far, in
response to the rise in immigration, Vienna has implemented several
controversial unilateral measures,
closing its border with Slovenia, introducing a quota on asylum
applications and threatening to introduce controls at its border with
Italy. Now, considering the recent success of the anti-immigration
Freedom Party, the administration in Vienna may take a cue to continue
toughening its position. If Austria's traditional parties feel that the
Freedom Party's strong electoral showings jeopardize their own prospects
— especially as they prepare for a 2018 general election — they might
try to adopt a more nationalist agenda as well.
Italy is among the countries most worried by this trend, fearing that
Vienna may close the borders with its southern neighbor in response to
popular demands. This would sever one of the main migration routes between Italy and Northern Europe,
which could, in turn, lead stranded migrants to camp at the
Italian-Austrian border. Moreover, border closures, and even controls,
would hurt bilateral trade and compound traffic congestion in one of
Europe's most transited regions.
Greece, too, would feel the effects of a Euroskeptic Austrian
government. Athens is currently trying to convince its fellow Schengen
Agreement signatories that its efforts to protect the European Union's external borders are
sufficient. To that end, Athens will present new plans for improved
border controls to the EU Commission this week. If the plans are not
well received, Greece could be suspended from the Schengen zone. At the
same time, Greece is negotiating with its creditors to determine the
reforms it must implement to receive its next tranche of bailout money
and the contingency measures it will have to introduce if it fails to
meet fiscal targets by 2018. As a member of Schengen and the eurozone,
Austria will have a say on both issues. And pressures at home could
force Vienna to take a tougher stance toward its southern colleague.
Beyond the implications for Southern Europe, Austria's political
developments are notable for their relative similarity to Germany's.
Opinion polls there show that the two largest German parties, the
center-right Christian Democratic Union and the center-left Social
Democratic Party, are losing ground to less moderate factions. The
nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, for instance, is
currently polling at around 14 percent.
AfD emerged as a collection of university professors and journalists
critical of the eurozone, but soon evolved into an anti-immigration
party. Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door refugee policy was
a boon for AfD, which saw its popular support double in a few months.
But as the migrant flow into Germany has slowed, Alternative for Germany
has sought additional ways to attract and maintain the Euroskeptic and
nationalist vote. In an interview published April 24 in Frankfurt's
Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Jorg Meuthen, a prominent AfD member,
suggested a return to the party's roots. Meuthen argued that France and
other Southern European countries should be excluded from the eurozone
for their unwillingness to reform.
Among German political parties, Alternative for Germany is not alone
in questioning the eurozone. Along with a large segment of its
population, Germany's government is concerned about potential fallout in the country's financial sector from
the European Central Bank's expansionary monetary policies. Both the
center-right and the center-left have criticized the ECB, and German
newspapers regularly discuss the bank's strategies. In early April,
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble allegedly blamed the ECB for
the spike in AfD's popularity. Ironically, in expressing their own
disapproval, the mainstream, pro-European parties affirm AfD's position.
Furthermore, Meuthen's statements reveal AfD's desire to weaken
Europe's core political and economic partnership, the alliance between
Germany and France. But for French nationalists, at least, AfD's idea
may not seem like a bad one. France's National Front is equally
skeptical of the euro, claiming that it has damaged France's economy and
undermined its sovereignty. In fact, the party has promised to put
eurozone membership to a referendum vote if it wins the 2017 presidential election.
For its part, AfD recently announced that it would seek greater
cooperation with like-minded parties. Mutual distaste for the eurozone,
albeit for different reasons, could bring the two parties together.
The Euroskeptic trend poses a threat not only to the future of
Southern Europe, but also to that of the Continental bloc as a whole.
Surging nationalist sentiment could lead Northern European governments
to isolate themselves from the south, closing borders or deciding that
the eurozone would fare better without its problematic members. For now,
Euroskepticism is much stronger in Austria, a wealthy but relatively
small country with limited influence over EU affairs. Though a
Euroskeptic Austria could make life more difficult for Southern Europe,
it probably would not represent a systemic challenge for the European
Union. Conversely, a Euroskeptic Germany could freeze or even reverse
the process of Continental integration.

The Greek fleet, adds a modern family super submarine Type 214, which is produced in the Port of Ship Yard Skaramanga in Piraeus. This is the third submarine Type 214, after "Papanikolis S 120" and "Pipinos S 121", and is built the new submarine "Katsonis S 123" to the next year, which will be part of the Greek fleet.

According to observers military equipment of the Greek fleet with 4 submarine Type 214, in recent times, it poses a threat in the Mediterranean, since these Submarines, have the capacity to stay long under the sea to 90 days, and to dive up to a depth 300 meters.

The modernization program of the Greek fleet, there are currently 12 active submarines in service, but production in ShipYard Skaramanga in Piraeus has more potential empowering the Greek fleet. In this port, they are also built three Greek frigate, the type MEKO 200.

The Constitutional Court of Albania, has removed Koço Kokëdhima`s Socialist Deputy mandate, which was sent at this court by the Democratic Party's.

Kokëdhima, accused of illegal profit of public funds, benefiting approximately for 150 tenders being in clear conflict of interest.

A few weeks ago, the Constitutional Court accepted the request of the Democratic Party to be an interested party in the matter. PD accused Kokëdhima for benefit public funds in a time that has been the Deputy.

Democratic Party told the court that Mr. Kokëdhima violated the Constitution by public funds benefited from contracts concluded by the company, which he owned until several months after receiving the mandate.

MP Koco Kokëdhima talking to the media after the hearing in the Constitutional Court decided not expressed on the issue of its mandate, which it said has left to the court to whose decision has full confidence.

"On this issue I think should not pronounce on me and I want to quit completely in the hands of the court, since I have full confidence in the justice system and that this issue will take a final solution," said Kokëdhima.

The Panepirotic Federation of America vehemently condemns the brutal destruction by Albanian authorities on August 26 of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Chimara region of the former Communist nation that once prohibited all forms of religious worship. The Church of St. Athanasius in the town of Drymades, known in Albanian as Dhermi, was completely destroyed by government agents acting on the authority of Albania’s Interior Ministry.

Petitioning European Council

The land in Himara belongs to the people of Himara! Land and property registration NOW! Signe now this petition to the European Councile, for the registration of properties to the only and single eligible owner: the PEOPLE of Himara.

Himara Community of USA, Addresses Himarra Property Issues with US State Department / Ambassador

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to inform you of issues affecting United States citizens who have vested interests in the municipality of Himarra, Albania, and to express our concern about their long outstanding and unresolved problems regarding property rights. Over 1500 US citizens of Himarrioton descent are disenfranchised of their rights to the ownership of their family properties which were confiscated in 1945 by the communist regime. They have been attempting to claim their family properties since the end of the communist period without success due to the laws and policies of the Albanian government which a) fail to address ownership rights of pre-1945 landowners, b) fail to address the rights of owners who were forced to emigrate to the United States for economic or political reasons, and c) fail to address the rights of those with dual citizenship who have attempted to claim their properties as Albanian citizens.

Opinion - Kisha Autoqefale dhe Greqia! (14 tetor 2013)

DEBAT NE OPINION TV KLAN

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Officially: Omonoia, In Albania over 300.000 Greeks declared

30 % or 86,000, are declared electronically and this process includes 85 % of the members of the Greek minority Vlora Prefecture is the mostly populated by Greeks, there are about 90. 000 Greeks. TIRANA - Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority, Omonoia publishes the results of the census of members of the Ethnic Greek Community, organized by it structures. The Prime Census, was the decision of the General Council of the organization as members argued for exclusion of the Greek minority in the months Census October 2011, organized by the Institute of Statistics .

The history of elections of the Albanian dictator, to terrorize the people of Himara

A special Edition by SManalysis December 2, 1945: The Himariotes, abstaining from communist referendum, as happens usually for Himara the Albanian historians, never wrote this tragic history. Nikos Koutoulas, who boldly told the special communist court: "I'm Greek . I do not know Albanian, get me a interpret!" Still now, Albania never hold free politic elections, including Himara Municipality

Albanian Writer Raises Storm in Kosovo

Kosovo officials have rounded on Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja for saying that the political elites in both countries turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Besar Likmeta BIRN Tirana Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja In the article published in the May edition of the magazine Sudosteuropa, Lubonja focused on the reaction of Albania’s political class to the acquittal of the former KLA commander and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj by the Hague Tribunal. Lubonja wrote that following Haradinaj’s release, the elite in Pristina and Tirana celebrated him as a hero, despite having enough information that the charges brought by prosecutors in the Hague were correct.

As long as human rights and civil liberties are violated in Himara Region primarily property, Greec

Himara Associations: Athens to block the status of Albania, if Tirana, does not solve the property issue Two associations based in Himara, "The Himara Community" and "Sea Coastal Association" have asked in a statement distributed to the media this afternoon that Greece "should block the candidate status for Albania" if Tirana, will not solve the problems of Human Rights and particularly the issue of the properties in Himara Region. The statement takes into consideration the visit Tirana following day of E.Venizelos the Greek Deputy Prime Minister also heads the Presidency of the European :

Albania minorities object to territorial division

Albania's civil society is calling on officials to diffuse tensions and protect minorities from discrimination and potential violence as a result of the decision to scrap the existing municipalities and create a new territorial administration. The government reduced the 384 local government units to 65, effectively creating entirely Albanian-majority municipalities. Greek, Macedonian and other minority representatives said the government's move violates their rights and international norms.

Poll: Albania, the most racist country in Europe

An international survey data from the World Value Survey collected and processed by the Washington Post reveals that Albania is the most racist country in Europe and worldwide more racists. The survey attempts to make a connection between economic development and being tolerant inside a society with ethnic crashes.. Thus, the most tolerant countries in the world are the Nordic countries, Great Britain and some of its former colonies, the United States, Canada and Australia. Countries with high tolerance are also in Latin America, where Venezuela exception.

Fatos Lobonja: Albania needs formatting not to rebirth

Fatos Lobonja, in an interview for the program "PULS" the KohaVision in Kosovo, there appeared criticism of developments in Albania. According Lubonja Albanians as a society still can not be consolidated. The reasons, according to him, are corrupt Albanian political elites on all sides, inside and abroad. He said they did not thirst for power leaves organize and move forward. Edi Rama's arrival at the head of government, according Lubonja, will not change the image of Albania, because Rama is associated with the oligarchs and organized crime. " He should answer that elite and non-citizens of Albania ", Lobonja estimates.

Nicholas Gage: Athens to give soon the Greek citizenship for thousand north epiriotes

World Council delegation of Epirus Abroad, meeting with the Ministry of Interior for the vote of northern epiriotes and the resolve the pension problem The visit of Nicholas Gage, is considering as the latest diplomatic effort of USA lobbing, for implementation of the "Protocol of Corfu" agreement, between Albania and Greece, based on the ulterior escalation in Balkan region. The Delegation of the World Council of Foreign Relation of Epirus (PSIE) headed by the Honorary President Nicolas Gkatzogianni, had a working meeting with the Greek Interior minister Stylianidis and v/ minister Syrigos.

Himariotes, lobbying in USA, for Autonomy

A group of people of Himara, with American citizenship, are lobbying to the US Congress and the State Department, that the Himara Region, receive the right for autonomy, according to international historical right to his self-determination. Proposed to merge all associations operating in USA, Greece and Albania, to be united in a single purpose: Autonomous Himara, Movements in the Balkans geopolitical, Mitrovica case, cutting pension from Greece, scarce public investment, robbery and illegal registration of property, etc., have raised a great concern, as never in the recent relationship of Himara, Albanian and Greek state relationship.

Pyrros Dimas, meeting with the Greek Minister of Labour, for problem of pensions to the Northern Ep

- Initiative of MP of PASOK, Pyrros Dimas for preparing and drafting a legislative proposal in collaboration with representatives of the Northern Epirus organizations. - The Minister agreed on the need to find a solution and urged the Member to develop concrete proposals, and that after consultation with the Secretary of the New Republic, Manolis Kefaloyiannis will be submitted jointly to the Minister of Finance.

"Kakome Case" again to the Albanian Tribunals

The Greek Community continues to "constant war" with the Albanian government to protect property. The apathy of Athens, to respond to the robbery of the properties in just the time, that OSCE, under the process of the registration of property in Ionian Coast, from European taxpayers, without any trasparence, is favoring according to Albanian law, alienation of property, of the Greek community , with the false documents.

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action " Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

NORTHERN EPIRUS THROUGH THE CENTURIES(LECTURE OF VASILIOS KYRANIS, Harvard University -1981) AL

Christos Pappas, in an interview with Arthur Zhei, News 24 TV

Pappas: "Northern Epirus is a region that holds arbitrary from Albania, as recognized by the great powers, the Protocol of Corfu. The Law of War against Albania, can not remove from Papoulias nor Greek parliament, but the Greek army is ready to liberate the Northern Epirus, again

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After a life threatening message to Archbishop Janullatos

42 Orthodox clergy against census and Red & Black Alliance: Janullatos has not afraid of death 42 Tirana archdiocese Orthodox clergy have reacted with a joint statement in defense of Anastasios Yannoulatos. Their attitude comes after strong reactions against the Red & Black Alliance, for Archbishop and after a census that sees Orthodox in third place in terms of religion in the country.

Albania: 100 years, Berisha plays 'great Albania' trump card

In Tirana Albanian leaders, tensions with Macedonia 28 November, 10:49 (ANSAmed) - TIRANA, NOVEMBER 28 - Albania's black and red national flag with a double-headed eagle is waving across the country which is celebrating today its 100th anniversary of independence in a tense political climate. The centre-right Premier Sali Berisha has been calling for days for an ethnic-national unification of all Albanians living in different Balkan states, in efforts to revive a strong nationalism which is rejected by Albania's opposition.

The Official Site of The Himara Community

CONTINUES THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM NORTHERN

According to the Greek organisation of Albania estimates there are thousands of Greek American citizens from Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) which is refering the Journalist Lambros Papantoniou, asking the Spokesman of State Department for the rights of American citizens with Greek origin to take their properties in Southern Albania. Papantoniou is refereeing a Memo between Albanian State and USA about the civil rights especially for the properties of American citizens who are interested to take them according to Albanian Constitution and laws the properties of family generation. This is the second debate of the veteran Journalist for Balkan Issues in State Department Lambros Papantoiou who accuses over all the Sali Berisha Regim in Albania supported by the President Bush.

A Response to AFP

SManalysis Orthodox churches of Albania, are Byzantine churches, belong to the property of the population of Epirus.....

Avramopoulos`s speach during NATO meeting

Greece threatens Albania blocking the integration process after Berisha's statements Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, has expressed his concern at the NATO ministerial meeting about rising tide of nationalism in Albania and premature declarations of the government. In a press release the Greek Foreign Ministry said that "the growth of nationalism and populism in some of our neighboring countries is a source of great concern."

The U.S. talk of "change of borders in the Balkans"

Message-warning sent to Albania by the U.S. representative to the State Department, which in a statement said that any change of borders in the Balkans "would be counterproductive and destabilizing," but the issue is that for the first time put the U.S. even and negative mood on any change of borders in the Balkans ...

INUK në Vlorë, pronarët: Me dokumenta të rregullta dhe leje ndërtimi

ENIKOS.GR

GREEK NEWS FROM NIKO`S BLOG

PREMIUM, THE GREEK TRASFORMATION

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache,

THE BIG CHANGE IN PERIVOLO, DRYMADES, HIMARA REGION

Dhermi, (Drymades, Himara Region) between natural beauty and destruction Look at those videos, before in 2010, everything natural and in 2012 the differences, the big changes how are divided Mafia plots, see whose investments are shown, with the camera of a sportsman parachute, in Long Beach "Perivolo" in Dhrymades, the Himara Region. Look at how this summer 2012, the Concessions of Mafia provided by The Himara Counsil Municipality and the Government of Albania, have become a reality. The Sand Beach Drymades, is transformed in the sidewalks and kiosks. See how they are transformed Dhermi, in a few years, in an administrative center, disrupting also balance the religious and ethnic composition of himariotes.

Robert Elsie: If I would live in Albania, it would be crazy. It is the same as in Ottoman times

After known albanolog Milan Shufla, Robert Elsie is the best conteproranean albanian albanolog in the World During his intereweu on "Top Channely TV, Robert Elsie, on his first interview on TV. expresed his story about Albanian and Albanian state in 100 years. An interesting tale scholar known for his work difficulties in view of the Albanian language. Elsie, who knows Albanians for years, amounts to a chilling conclusion. He says he will not ever live in Albania, as it will go mad. "I can not live here. It's a little wild for me, the relationships between people are a bit wild. I know that is just a facade that inside have good spirit, but have a rabies in human relations. You know how to protect yourself here, and here I am like a rabbit, he can not defend myself. I come here with pleasure, but do not believe they can afford to come and live here forever. There is much frustration of everyday life. Life is too short and I do not have time to bump into obstacles, only to achieve something, when in another country and get away and then live my life, "said Elsie to Albanian. And while Enver Hoxha's Albania as compared with that of Sali Berisha, adds: "There is something that depends only on the party, it's more the attitude of the people. So to get something going, you have to know someone in the Ministry, to drink coffee with, then drink coffee again next week with even a third time, and then he connects with the person that you are interested . That is the same as in Ottoman times, not like a normal country. ".

Separatists gaining ground in Europe

Greece, is going to Plan B: grant for 600 thousand Greek citizenship, at the Consulates

Failure of the Census in Albania, apparently, has forced Athens, put in place, going to Plan B to its foreign policy, grant citizenship to all Hellenic Community of Northern Epirus (Greek passports) through three Greek consulates in Albania. According to “The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare”, in a statement issued by the Greek Consul in Argjirokaster, Nikolaos Kotroxois, will begin soon, giving the Greek passports to Albanian citizens of Greek descent, who have applied for years. The decision is taken, after Athens, has used all diplomatic sources to have to Tirana, the same wavelength, particularly in geopolitical matters, particularly Kosovo. In his statement, the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, noted, that Tirana, continues to show towards Greece, feeling not sincere cooperation, while simultaneously calling for the right to self-determination of the Greek community in Albania.

BERISHA: GREATER ALBANIA, WE LOST TERRITORIES

he Albanian Prime Minister held a meeting with Prishtina University students, in which he argued why he is against the unification of Albania with Kosovo and why both countries would lose, if borders would be changed. “The vital interest of the Albanians is to preserve the current borders, and the Albanians should not accept, at any cost, to lose a single square meter of the land they are entitled to. Another redraw of the borders would mark undeserved losses of the Albanian territories. We must be patient, free, and should not undertake any action that threatens territorial losses. Every generation has to make its duty, and this generation made it”, Berisha declared.

Dimas:"The Greek ethnic Community in Albania has the right of free of charge self-determination"

The reliability of the results of population census in Albania, in terms of minority groups, directly challenging the foreign minister Stavros Dimas, diaminyontas same time that the Respect for human and minority rights is … crucial criterion for the progress of the accession method of our neighbor. In a letter sent to the Home in response to a question from a Member of LA.OS K. Aivaliotis, Dimas says that “the foreign ministry has closely followed all the developments surrounding the census in Albania, even though produced timely plays, both bilateral and European level to make sure the integrity process and unimpeded registration of members of the Greek National Minority, and each location of residence of such ». As outlined, the “Selection of the representatives of the main minority groups, including the Greek National Minority, invite their members to abstain in protest not guaranteed to respect the right of free of charge self-determination, showed a significant deficit of trust minority in the Albanian state, which ought to itself the Albanian government to address priority ».

The Constitutional Court Decision on December 1, the Latter abolished the term Ethnic certificate of Its Citizens. In the Decision, panels argues why the notion of "nationality" is incompatible with the constitution When Its state charter law does not provid a clear definition of Its meaning. In Assessing the Court, "nationality" as defined concept without, unlike Other components of civil law does not Create a link that 'translates the Mutual rights and duties of Natural Persons and state.

While the total population in Himara Municipality, does not exceed 12 thousand inhabitants, a source from the prosecution of Vlora, shows that the problems of ownership at the squirrels region have reached the 7500 court proceedings and special investigations, which marks a world record, by how a country like Albania, could not manage the right of ownership, in one of the areas attacked by the Albanian mafia and international. However, the U.S. Department Report for 2004 on human rights in Albania, states clearly that in the Himara Municipality, the community lands and the Orthodox Church, was robbed by a Courts with false documents, supported by the Office of Propetry Registration in Albania.

Arben Puto: Albania has declared war against Greece first

In his book "The Italian Greek War", Arben Puto, well known historian of the era of dictatorship in Albania, writes that: "In a unanimous decision of the Albanian Parliament on July 15, 1940, was ratified, the Italian Fascist royal decree, which declared all war allies France and Britain, including the USA and Greece. So need to Albanians, to be aware that Greece was not declared war Albania, but Albania, with military battalions that attacked Greece on 28 October 1940 ".

WB returns to Ionian Riviera residence reconstruction

Another World Bank project is being executed with the help of the Albanian authorities for the reconstruction of the residences in Albania’s southern coastline. The 625.000 USD project aims to protect and promote the values of the Albanian national architecture in the Southern part of the country, in order to prevent destruction and abandonment of the traditional houses. “Shqip” newspapers says that the Ministry of Public Works is the WB partner in the “Roofs and Facades” project. The implementation of the program has started in the villages classified as participators: Dhermi i Vjeter, Qeparo i Vjeter, Ilias, Vuno, Himare e Vjeter, Piqeras, Nivice and Luksht. The World Bank will finance 70% of the restauration cost, with a maximum of 7000 USD, while the program “Accommodation and Breakfast” will finance 50 of the restoration cost, with a maximum of 5,000 USD. The program “Roofs and Facades” aims to restore 72 houses in 18 months. 20 of them will adopt with the conditions of modern life, in the framework of the program “Accommodation and Breakfast”.

In Albania, at 20 years post-dictatorship, 8 thousands murders, for the issue of property

The shocking data, are given by the Prosecutor General, to the Albanian press Shocking facts which, in the wake of Albania rank Civil War, the high level of killings, including the year 1997 Through the Albanian press, Attorney General, has published shocking facts about the increasing number of murders in Albania, especially for issues of ownership. Clic on photo ....

Himara 26 centuries, a history of glorious Independence

HIMARA, THE NEXT MONTE CARLO`S IN EPIRUS

First step to Greater Albania: Kosovo Opens First Highway Section

A 38 kilometre-tranche of the road, which will eventually cross the country from the Albanian to Serbian border, was opened on Saturday. The first section, which runs from Vermica on the Albanian border to close to the town of Suhareka, cost 330 million euro. Senior Kosovo and Albania government officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. In a speech, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga said that the "highway has the role of linking nations and countries". "It is our link with important European corridors. Our coordinated policy will make us a free and equal members of the European Union," she added. Named the "Ibrahim Rugova Highway", after Kosovo's most famous president, the road connects with Albania's first highway, which was also built by the Turkish-American consortium Bechtel-Enka.

George Goro: Registration of properties on the southern coast of Albania faces difficulties

The process of registration of property in southern coastal areas of Albania is getting quite difficult. Mayor George Himara Goro says it has so far only completed the registration of houses and land but not land. Problems with documentation and the implementation of the Land Law difficult, according to him, residents in this process.

The Monument of Independence of Albania, is in hassle

PDIU Cam Community Party, the Socialist Party's local leader in Vlora, and "Red & Black Alliance", are making a nationalistic competition, the Monument of Independence and the Albanian national flag. Few days ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the establishment of a new monument to the independence of Albania in Tirana, implying, dismiss the historical tradition of Albanian independence in Vlora.

Himarrioton Society of America

The Himarriotans of America, motivated by the love of Himarra, the land of their native origin, and dedicated to the noblest ideals of their forfathers, have established this organization which aspires to the cultivation and preservation of Himarriotic culture in America, to making a positive difference in the lives of its members, and to promoting the rights and interests of the Himarriotans in Himarra, through the realization of patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational and cultural endeavors.

Opinion in Kosovo: "Socialists in Albania, are filo Greek"

The Chairman of the Opposition in Albania, Edi Rama, accused by the press in Kosovo that "he is with filo Greek sentiments" If, Sali Berisha, Albania's current prime minister, is expected both in Macedonia and Kosovo, as president of the Albanian nation, this has not happened with the chairman of the opposition in Albania, Edi Rama. During a recent visit to Kosovo, Edi Rama is unpopular, the fact that the perception of public opinion in Kosovo, is that the south, is the area close to Greece, but especially Rama and the Socialist Party, was accused of holding a position filo Greek, against the interests of Greater Albania.